CRYPTIC QUICK
Across
1. Support advance of a rugby player (4,7)
7. Elm, part of which one might walk underfoot (7)
9. Being slightly obscene, it must be replaced (4)
11. One rose that rambles around a twig of willow (5)
12. It may produce the power to do many a turn (6)
14. Chronic type is upset when it comes to fireworks (11)
18. In taking out loan the Leathernecks are not extraordinary (6)
20. The secret hoard is of money, one is told (5)
22. It’s not quite the Denver boot that will make him shut up (4)
23. Is not disinclined to be leaving somebody something (7)
24. The singers look to him or a chemist, right? (11)
Down
2. The truth is, one is in estate agent’s business in America (7)
3. Nothing supplied by writer can be so frank (4)
4. A dance from Cuba or from Burma maybe (5)
5. Leave it off if there’s nothing in it, and condescend (5)
6. Harbours up a way to sharpen one’s razor (5)
Across
1. Cut off (5)
4. Relish (6)
7. Dine (3)
8. Caper (6)
9. Sour (6)
10. Shame (13)
14. Imperial (5)
15. Engine (5)
18. Crude but effective (5-3-5)
23. Female graduate (6)
24. Electrical socket (6)
25. Large antelope (3)
26. Stick to (6)
27. Dense (5)
8. It may be a bit offensive for the small ads column (8)
10. Itch may start laughter in a way that’s imaginary (8)
13. Feeling of offence shown by a favourite (3)
15. The slope that’s incorporated with the course (7)
16. A brief bite for the first name in the bag (5)
17. It has its thin end the golfer
Down
1. Throng of insects (5)
2. Orchestral instrument (5)
3. Give up work (6)
4. Emphasise (6)
5. Poison (5)
6. Alliance (5)
10. Mistake (5)
11. Marshy outlet of a river (US) (5)
12. Additional (5)
13. Late (5)
16. Devastate (6)
17. Loathsome (6)
19. Lubricated (5)
20. Something very easy (5)
21. Glorify (5)
22. Fear (5) uses for approaching (5)
19. Cock might take such a fish to be an insect (5)
21. In the which one is knowledgeable about how to crawl? (4)
with the company accused of dismal working conditions and suppressing unions organising at its warehouses.
Covid-19 has scrambled all the usual rules of politics. But the deal with the shopping giant has uncomfortable echoes of National’s 2010 Hobbit trade with Warner Bros. And freezing the wages of civil servants in a crisis would have earned a backslap from parsimonious Bill English, who had zero tolerance for public sector waste and used the GFC to slash jobs.
Labour is being pulled in two directions.
On one hand, sticking doggedly to the centre on economic policy and espousing fiscal discipline in order to win elections.
But then, torn by ever-increasing pressure to ease the immiseration of the working and middle classes brought about by years of reliance on ‘‘trickle down’’ economics.
Until now, the Left and the union movement have been tolerant of
Ardern’s timidity, biding time through the Winston Peters-imposed stagnation in the first term and understanding that Covid-19 made any reform agenda impossible.
Their patience is wearing thin. Without radical outcomes that reverse the trends of inequality in society, when it comes to 2023 they will wonder what was the point of winning an unprecendented mandate.
It’s hard to imagine what Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Minister for the Public Service Chris Hipkins were thinking when they put together this austerity package.
Perhaps it was a mistake: a reckless opening gambit in upcoming salary negotiations? Or a naive attempt to swipe at well-paid Wellington bureaucrats that overreached with unintended consequences?
Whatever the motivation, it’s put them on a collision course with doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers and the unions that represent them.
It’s also bad economics. Forcing three-quarters of those working in the public service to further tighten belts does not make economic sense, and is more likely to weaken wage growth for other sectors as they spend less.
Such was the backlash of anger and betrayal at the move from within its own ranks, the Government would be best to quickly throw in its hand.
There is no shame in the occasional U-turn. John Key made an art form of the flip-flop, styling it out as ‘‘listening’’ to public opinion.
Ardern should take the earliest opportunity to save face and back away. As two members of her Cabinet most trusted by the public, Robertson and Hipkins, can afford to take the humiliating hit.
Such was the backlash of anger and betrayal at the move from within its own ranks, the Government would be best to quickly throw in its hand.